Chelyabinsk, a city of 1.1 million inhabitants just to the east of the Ural mountains, has launched a new “IT Park” to support local tech projects, as reported by RVC last month. Officially launched last month, this 2,200-sq. m. technopark is privately owned, but has received support from the local authorities and the federal government.
IT Park’s stated goal is to “stimulate the development of the region’s IT industries” and “establish a dialogue between startups, the corporate world, the government and the academic community.”
Among IT Park’s residents are the largest IT companies of the region, with additional players being attracted.
“IT graduates and early-stage IT companies are offered everything to successfully jump start their businesses, from expert support to access to investor networks and industry players,” commented Infrafund CEO Alexander Loktev.
IT Park is supported by the Infrafund, which is one of the funds backed by RVC, the Russian state’s investment arm to support innovation.
Some of the projects hosted by the technopark have a military purpose. “However, the technology grown here can have civilian spin-offs and, therefore, will have a market potential,” an IT Park representative stated.
Another technopark opened in Chelyabinsk in 2012. Named Novator, it focuses on innovative manufacturing in the fields of energy-saving technologies, instrument making, metrology, and additive technology.
The two technoparks are independent from each other, representatives from both organizations told East-West Digital News.
- The International Association of Science Parks and Ares of Innovation (IASP) will hold its annual conference in Moscow this year, from Sept. 19 to Sept. 22. For more information, click here.
